Automatic wasteless transfer winding apparatus

ABSTRACT

Salient structural features employed within such winding apparatus include, inter alia, a pair of rotatably mounted chucks with pirns retained thereon, a pair of pivotally mounted transfer arms for transferring yarn between said pirns, a guide assembly with fixed and movable components for feeding the yarn alternately to the first or the second pirn, cutting means for automatically severing the yarn, hook means on the chucks for grabbing the leading segment of the yarn, power means for rotating the chucks and oscillating the transfer arms, and control means, including programming circuitry means and microswitches, for energizing said power means in properly timed sequence.

United States Patent Carr et al. Sept. 5, 1972 [54] AUTOMATIC WASTELESS TRANSFER 3,472,460 10/1969 'Kershaw ..242/l8 A WINDING APPARATUS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventors: Robert D. Carr; Fred W. Lenoir,

both of Hopewell; o Lee Reedy, 1,072,761 6/ I967 -Gr6at Brltaln ..242/l8 A Richmond, all of Va. o Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath [731 Asslgnee: g: Comma, Attorneyf-Roy I-I. Massengill and Luther A. Marsh [22] Filed: June 19, 1969 [5 ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 834,697 Salient structural features employed within such winding apparatus include, inter alia, a pair of rotatably mounted chucks with pims retained thereon, a pair of CCll. pivotally mounted transfer arms for transferring yam o u s a n n e u v n e s s v u s v n a n a [58] new of Search 18 18 iig g movable components for feeding the yarn alternately to the first or the second pim, cutting means for automatically severing the yarn, hook means on the chucks [56] References Cited for grabbing the leading segment of the yarn, power UNITED STATES PATENTS means for rotating the chucks and oscillating the 3 550 871 12/1970 K th 242 18 A transfer arms, and control means, including pro- 5 2/1971 %8 A gramming circuitry means and microswitches, for 2 296 339 9/1942 D afiiels 18 A UX energizing said power means in properly tlmed nc 2,998,202 8/1961 Keith et al. ..242/l8 PW seque e 3,345,003 10/1967 Mattingly et a1 ..242/I8 A 2 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures mEmEflser 5 1912 saw 1 or 5 ROBERT D. CARR,

FRED w. LeNOlR a ORA LEE REEDY PATENTEDSEP 5 1972 SHEEI 2 OF 5 INVENTORS ROBERT D. CARR,

FRED .W. LENOIR 8! ORA LEE REEDY QWM ATTORNEY PAIENTEDSEP im 8.888.998 SHEEI 3 BF 5 INVENTORS ROBERT D. CARR,

46 FRED w. LeNOlR 8 ORA LEE REEDY ATTORNEY vPATENTEn-saw"smn' 3.688.998

SHEU H F 5 4 INVENTORS ROBERT D. cARR, FRED w. LeNOlR a. ORA LEE REEDY ATTORNEY P'ATENTEBSEP 5 m2 SHEET 5 BF 5 KOFOE mwoz PIQE EOPOE mun-2.3 PmuJ "5.05240; FImZE mmOPOE mun-23 -68: 559.58 mummzfit E5 r P5050 Jmm hum INVENTORS ROBERT D. CARR, FRED W.

oz mmEC.

AUTOMATIC WASTELESS TRANSFER WINDING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The instant invention relates generally to the winding of yarn, wire, and similar strand-like materials, and more particularly to an efficient wasteless system for continuously winding yarn on a succession of rotating yarn packages and automatically severing said yarn when the package has reached the desired size.

' 2. Description of the Prior Art During the processing of yarn, it has been customary to collect the yarn by winding same onto pirns, bobbins or similar packages. The winding process, however, is discontinuous in nature, for each time an individual collection package is filled, the yarn traveling thereto is broken or cut by shears and thence transferred to a waste roll while the completed package is replaced by an empty pirn. Then the leading end of the yarn is attached to the empty pirn and the winding process is repeated. Obviously, the steps of breaking or severing the yarn, doffing the full package and substituting an empty package therefor, attaching the leading end of the yarn to the empty package, etc., are time consuming operations which waste yarn and entail substantial labor costs. These losses are compounded when a large number of packages are being wound at the same time at high operating speeds as is customary in the textile field.

Numerous solutions to these problems have been attempted with qualified success, at best. One solution entailed the provision of a pair of articulated arms pivotally mounted side by side on a common horizontal axis. A mandrel at the end of each arm rotatably mounted an empty yarn package. At the beginning of the operation of the yarn winding apparatus, one arm was swung downward into operative position while the other arm was maintained thereabove in inoperative position. Thearms were maintained in their relative positions by a locking mechanism.

After the desired quantity of yarn had been wound on the first yarn package, the locking mechanism was released so that the second arm with its empty yarn package was swung downwardly into operative position while the first arm with its full yarn package was swung into an inoperative position. During the swinging movement of the arms, a switch was tripped and a cutter blade severed the trailing end of the yarn. A stream of air directed the newly formed leading end of the yarn against the empty yarn package on the second arm. The full yarn package on the first arm was then doffed and an empty yarn package was then slipped onto the mandrel on the first arm and the first arm was rotated to a position above the second arm, so that the process could be repeated. The locking mechanism was actuated to maintain the arms in proper orientation. US. Pat. Nos. 2,789,774 and 3,310,247 granted to Svend A. Peterson et al and Michael Emery, respectively, exemplified this proposed solution for minimizing the time and material wastage encountered with high speed doffing operations.

The above described two-arm yarn windup mechanisms, however, were cumbersome in nature and required a considerable amount of floor space be left vacant between adjacent packaging stations. Consequently the expenses attributed to under utilization of available floor space added to the costs inherent in installing and maintaining such relatively complicated mechanisms in operating condition. Additionally, such mechanisms failed to fully eliminate yarn wastage during dofi'mg, particularly when the yarn was fed to the yarn packages at high rates of through-put. The wastage problem was further aggravated by the difficulty in accurately positioning the leading end of the yarn in operative association with the empty yarn package.

SUMMARY Thus, with the deficiencies of the prior art structures and techniques enumerated above in mind, the instant invention contemplates an automatic transfer winding system that can accomplish high speed, wasteless transfer of yarn between a pair of winding heads or pirns. Additionally, the instant transfer winding system, which is characterized by a pair of oscillatable transfer arms and automatic severing means responsive to changes in the tension of the yarn being wound, is compact in size and can be installed between a pair of closely-spaced winding heads. Furthermore, at high rates of through-put, the instant system is safer from an operating standpoint and is economical to operate with regard to both labor and material costs. Under experimental conditions, the instant system transferred yarn running at 6,000 feet per minute from one winding head to another without any yarn wastage.

Other advantages attributable to the instant invention will become readily apparent in light of the following description of the invention when construed in connection with the accompanying sheets of drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of winding pirns with a transfer winding system, constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, disposed in operative association therebetween;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of guide means and cutting means for the transfer winding system;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the cutting means, such view being taken along line 33 in FIG. 2 and in the direction indicated;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a fragment of the winding pirn, such view being taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 and in the direction indicated;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the pair of pirns with the transfer winding system disposed therebetween with the transfer arms in neutral position;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the pair of pirns with the pair of transfer arms of the transfer winding system held in neutral position;

FIGS. 7-10 are top plan views similar to FIG. 5 but depicting four sequential stages in the transfer process; and

FIG. 1 l is a diagrammatic representation of the components of the transfer system and the sequence of interrelated command signals involved in the transfer process.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in greater detail to the drawings in which similar reference numerals refer to similar parts, FIG. 1 depicts a first pirn 10 and a second pirn 12 which alternatively receive the yarn 14 passing downwardly from an overhead supply through an eye 16 secured to support member 18. Eye 16 serves as the center-line for the instant system for the components to the left and to the right of such center line are mirror images of one another.

Left winder motor 20, when energized, causes chuck 22, upon which pim 10 is seated, to rotate at a high rate of speed. A longitudinally reciprocating traverse guide 24 receives yarn l4 and deposits same on pim 10 during the course of its movement. The longitudinal movement of guide 24 is coordinated with the speed of rotation of chuck 22 and pirn 10 so that the yarn is evenly distributed along the length pim 10. Release lever 26 at the rear of chuck 22 permits pim 10, when filled to thedesired package size, to be manually removed or doffed from chuck 22 and an empty pirn substituted therefor. The shading on pim 10 indicates the presence of the yarn package being wound.

Right winder motor 28, when energized, causes chuck 30 upon which pirn 12 is mounted, to rotate at a high rate of speed. A reciprocating traverse guide 32 receives yarn 14 from eye 16 and deposits same on pim 12 during its longitudinal movement. Release lever 34 at the rear of chuck 30 permits the pim 12, when filled to the desired package size, to be manually removed or doffed from chuch 30 and an empty pim substituted therefor.

An automatic wasteless transfer system embodying the principles of this invention is disposed between pims l and 12 and is identified generally by reference numeral 36. System 36 includes a control console 38 with manually operable switches 40, 42 and an adjustable timer 44 visible on the front face of the console. Timer 44 is set into operation by rotatable adjustment of knob 46. Console 38 contains conventional electromagnetic relay programming circuitry 47 (see FIG. 1 1) that cooperates with a plurality of position-defining microswitches to energize the components of system 36 in the proper sequence of operation.

System 36 further includes a pair of transfer arms 48, 50 that are pivotally mounted for oscillatory movement in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions away from the normal, or neutral, vertical position seen in FIGS. 1, and 6. Left transfer arm 48 has a substantially A-shaped wire guide 52 at its upper end which straddles a rotating guide cone 54. Guide 52 is asymmetrical when viewed in a vertical plane (see FIG. 6); consequently the guide can pass freely beneath the yarn being wound when oscillating in a first direction and contact and retain the yarn thereupon when oscillating in a second direction. An annular collar 56, with a lug 58 projecting therefrom, is positioned toward the lower end of arm 48. Guide 52 is fixedly mounted, but collar 56 can be rotatably adjusted about arm 48 to alter the position of lug 58.

In identical fashion, right transfer arm 50 has a substantially A-shaped wire guide 60 and guide cone 62 at its upper end. An annular adjustable collar 64 with a projecting lug 66 is positioned toward the lower end of arm 50.

Referring again to left transfer arm 48, it is seen that transfer arm 48 is pivotally joined near its lower end to shaft 68. The shaft is oscillated through an arc of approximately 200, i.e., 100 in each direction from the neutral position of FIG. 1, by left transfer controller motor 70 which is mounted atop control console 38 and is connected thereto by electrical cable 72.

Posts 74 extend vertically from console 38 to left support plate 76 which is angularly oriented with respect to pirn 10. A horizontally extending member 78 is afiixed to the comer of plate 76 adjacent to pim 10 and a guide roller 80 is rotatably mounted thereon. A curved bar 82 is located at the end of plate 76 closest to the center line of system 36. Disposed between roller 80 and bar 82 is a first guide 84, a knife 86, and a second or clothesline guide 88 which has a slot in'its upper surface to allow the yarn to pass freely therethrough. A switch arm 89 with a curved loop is I located between knife 86 and clothesline guide 88; movement of the arm trips microswitch 91 which is operatively associated by cable 93 with the programming relay circuitry within console 38.

Referring again to right transfer arm 50, it is seen that arm 50 is pivotally joined near its lower end to shaft 90. The shaft is oscillated through an arc of approximately 200, i.e., in each direction from the neutral position of FIG. 1, by right transfer controller motor 92 (not seen in FIG. 1) which is mounted atop control console 38 and is connected thereto by electrical cable 94, as shown in FIG. 6.

Posts 96 extend vertically from control console 38 to right support plate 98 which is angularly oriented with respect to pim 12. A horizontally extending member 100' is afiixed to the corner of plate 98 adjacent to pirn 12 and a guide roller 102 is rotatably mounted thereon. A curved bar 104 is located at the end of plate 98 closest to the center of system 36. Disposed between roller 102 and bar 104 is a first guide 106, a knife 108, and a second guide which has a slot in its upper surface to allow the yarn to pass freely therethrough.

A switch arm 111 with a curved loop at its outermost end is located between clothesline guide 110 and knife 108; movement of the arm trips microswitch 1 13 which is operatively associated by cable 115. with the programming relay circuitry within console 38.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the structural and functional interrelationships of the components mounted upon right support plate 98. Guide 106 has an upper overhanging portion 106a which defines the height of the yarn passing above plate 98, a vertical portion l06b and a horizontal portion 1060. A ledge 112 extends away from guide 106 to serve as a support for knife 108 which bears lightly against the yarn as it passes beneath overhanging portion 106a of guide 106. Screw 114 retains guide 106 fixed to plate 98.

FIG. 4 shows an additional unique feature of the instant invention. An extensible hook 118 is provided near, or on, the front face of chuck 22 to securely grasp the leading end, or the so-called transfer tail, of the yarn to the empty pim about which the yarn is to be wrapped. Hook 118, which has an inverted-J configuration, emerges from its housing 120 to extend through a radial opening 122 in chuck 22, in response to centrifugal force generated by rotation of chuck 22. In this manner, hook 118 will be fully extended through opening 122 when chuck 22 is brought up to full running small roller 132 secured thereon. This view also reveals rotatable threaded shaft 134 which advances traverse guide 24 along its reciprocatory path, as well as rotatable threaded drive shaft 136 which advances traverse guide 32 along its reciprocatory path. The drive shafts 134 and 136 are alternatively driven by winder motors 20 and 28 (seen in FIG. 1), through conventional power transmission means.

FIG. 6 indicates, by way of directional arrows, the arcuate path through which transfer arms 48 and 50 are driven by transfer controller motors 70 and 92, respectively. Arm 48 is oscillated approximately 100 in the clockwise sense and approximately 100 in the counterclockwise sense from its vertical, neutral position. Arm 50 accomplishes the same angular movement. Such angular movement is necessary for left transfer arm 48 to pick up yarn 14 from pim 12 and transfer the yarn to pirn 10; similarly, such angular movement is necessary for right transfer arm 50 to pick up yarn 14 from pim 10 and transfer the yarn to pirn 12. Furthermore, FIG. 6 shows microswitch 139 mounted beneath left support plate 76 in operative association with transfer arm 48 and shaft 68, and microswitch 141 mounted beneath right support plate 98 in operative association with right transfer arm 50 and shaft 90. These microswitches define the limits of oscillatory movement for transfer arms 48 and 50 in one direction only.

SEQUENCE OF OPERATION The manner in which left transfer arm 48 and right transfer arm 50 alternatively performthe wasteless transfer of yarn between pirns 10 and 12 is fully described in conjunction with FIGS. 6-l0. The desired rate of through-put for yarn 14 in feet per minute is known and the length of time that it will take for pim 12 to be filled is then calculated. This time period is then set into timer 44 on control console 38 by rotatably setting knob 46. Then the winding operation is initiated on pirn 10 while both transfer arms are in their neutral position, as shown in FIG. 6.

Before the time period has elapsed, timer 44 transmits a control signal via cable 94 to the electromagnetic relay programming circuitry (FIG. 11) disposed within console 38 to turn on right transfer controller motor 92. Motor 92 then oscillates shaft 90 and right transfer arm 50 pivotally secured thereto until arm 50 oscillates counterclockwise below the plane of eye 16 and the yarn passing therethrough. Microswitch 141 is tripped when arm 50 reaches its extreme counterclockwise position, and the closure of the first microswitch causes motor 92 to reverse the sense of rotation of shaft 90 and thereby start to pivot arm 50 in the clockwise sense. Microswitch 141 simultaneously transmits an electrical signal to winder motor 28 to start rotation of chuck 30 and bring same up to a predetennined rotational speed.

Arm 50 then pivots almost 200 in theclockwise sense, or past the neutral position of FIGS. 1 and 6, to the extreme position shown in FIG. 8. The path of yarn 14, which moved directly from eye 16 to reciprocating shuttle 24 to pim 10, as seen in FIG. 7, is gradually lengthened as guide 60 on arm 50 moves clockwise until it reaches the limit of its movement. At this limit position for arm 50, the yarn traces its path from eye 16 to lug 66 on collar 64, then to roller 132, roller 102, on plate 98, beneath the overhanging surface 106a of guide l06,across knife 108, into the slot in the upper surface of clothesline guide 110, around the lower portion of guide 82 on plate 76 and finally to traverse guide 24 and pirn 10. A microswitch not shown, is tripped when arm 50 reaches its limit position and right transfer controller motor 92 again reverses direction and oscillates arm 50 to its vertical neutral position. Other microswitches (not shown) are actuated when the arm reaches its neutral position (seen in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6) to shut off motor 92.

While transfer arm 50 is moving first counterclockwise and then clockwise from its neutral position, pim 12, which is stationary in FIG. 7, is slowly brought up to running speed by winder motor 28. As chuck 30 and pim 12 are brought up to speed, a hook (not shown but identical to hook 118) is extended from its housing through opening 121. As chuck 30 rotates, the hook grabs yarn 14 and exerts a sudden force thereon. This force, which opposes the usual tension force in the yarn, pulls the yarn sharply against the knife 108 and cleanly severs the yarn. The severance of the yarn releases the tension exerted upon switch arm 111 and trips microswitch 113 which sends a signal via cable 115 to the electromagnetic relay programming circuit disposed with console 38. v

The programming circuit, in turn, produces an electrical signal that transfers control from winder motor 20 to winder motor 28 whereby pirn 10 stops and pirn 12 is rotated at a suitable windup speed as determined by the tension on the yarn.

The portion of the yarn passing between knife 108, clothesline guide 110, traverse 24 and pim 10, constitutes the trailing end of the yarn package woundupon pirn 10. The portion of the yarn passing between knife 108, guides 106 and 102, roller 132, lug 66 and eye 16, constitutes the so-called transfer tail for the package to be subsequently wound upon pim 12. The transfer tail is the lead portion of the yarn first wound onto the yarn package, such portion being disposed so as to be positively secured to the package but freely available for tying directly to the leading end of a second package. The transfer tail, which may be between 6 and 30 inches in length, can be easily varied in length in the instant apparatus simply by rotating collar 64 about arm 50. Rotation of collar 64 alters the position of lug 66, which changes the entry of the yarn to the chuck, and thus varies the length of the transfer tail when the yarn is severed.

Pirn 10 is then manually removed from chuck 30 by a machine operator who operates lever 26 and an empty pim is slipped onto the chuck, which is motionless during these operations. During the sequence of operations of arm 50 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, left transfer arm 48 remains motionless in its neutral vertical position. FIGS. 9 and 10, however, illustrate the same sequence of operations for left transfer arm 48 thereby completing the transfer cycle. Arm 50 remains motionless throughout the sequence of operations shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 for the electromagnetic relay programming circuitry contained within console 38, and the plurality of microswitches operatively associated therewith, are designed to insure alternate operation of the transfer arms.

In FIG. 9, left transfer arm 48 has been oscillated by left transfer controller motor 70 almost 100 in the clockwise sense until guide 52 slips beneath yarn 14 which is not being fed to pirn 12 via traverse 32. Microswitch 139 (FIG. 6) is tripped when arm 48 reaches its extreme clockwise position, and the tripping of such microswitch causes motor 70 to reverse the sense of rotation of shaft 68 and thereby start to oscillate arm 48 in a counterclockwise sense. Simultaneously, microswitchl39 transmits an electrical signal to winder motor to bring pim 10 up to a predetermined speed.

Arm 48 then oscillates almost 200 in the counterclockwise sense, or 100 past the neutral position of FIGS. 1 and 6, to the extreme position shown in FIG. 10. The path of yarn 14, which moved directly from eye 16 to reciprocating shuttle 32 to pim 12, as seen in FIG. 9, is gradually lengthened by the urging of guide 52 on arm 48 as the arm moves clockwise until it reaches the limit of its movement. At this limit position for arm 48, the yarn traces its path from eye 16 to lug 58 on "collar 56, then to roller 128, roller 80 on plate 76, beneath the overhanging surface of guide 84, across knife 86, into the slot in the upper surface of clothesline guide 88, across knife 86, into the slot in the upper surface of clothesline guide 88, around the lower portion of bar 104 on plate 98, and finally to traverse 32 and pirn 12. A microswitch, not shown, is tripped when arm 48 reaches the limit position of FIG. 10; at this point, a signal is sent to left controller motor 70 to reverse same and return arm 48 to its vertical neutral position.

While transfer arm 48 is moving first clockwise and then counterclockwise from its neutral position, pim 10, which is stationary in FIG. 9, is slowly brought up to running speed by motor 20. When chuck 22 and pirn 10 are up to speed, hook 1 18 is extended from its housing 120 through opening 122, as shown in FIG. 4. As chuck 22 rotates, hook 118 grabs yarn l4 and exerts a sudden force thereon. This force, which opposes the usual tension force in the yarn, pulls the yarn sharply against knife 86 and cleanly severs the yarn.

When the yarn is severed, the tension normally exerted upon switch arm 89 is released and microswitch 91 is tripped. The tripping of microswitch 91 produces an electrical signal that transfers control from winder motor 28 to winder motor 20 whereby pim 10 stops and pim 12 is rotated at a suitable wind-up speed as determined by the tension on the yarn. Other microswitches (not shown) are actuated when the arm reaches its neutral position to shut off the motor 90.

The portion of the yarn passing between knife 86, guide 84, rollers 80 and 128, lug 58 and eye 16 comprises the so-called transfer tail for the package to be subsequently wound upon pirn 10. The length of the transfer tail is varied simply by rotating collar 54 about arm 48. After the severing operation, pim 12 is then manually removed from chuck 30 by the machine operator, who releases lever 34, and an emptypirn is slipped onto chuck 30 while the cycle of operation is repeated and pim 10 is receiving the yarn to be wound.

FIG. 11 sets out, in schematic fashion, the description of the interrelationships between mechanical and electrical components set forth in FIGS. 1-10. For purposes of illustration, let us assume that yarn 14 is being wound onto pirn 10 as it is rotatably driven by left winder motor 20 and that pim 12 is stationary for the power to motor 28 has been shut off. Transfer arms 48 and 50 assume the vertical neutral position of FIGS. 1, 5 and 6 for microswitches (not shown) are tripped when this position is attained and shut off the power to left and right transfer controller motors and 92, respectively. Knob 46 on timer 44 is then set to the desired size and/or weight to be wound upon pirn 10.

When the predetermined time period expires, timer 44 sends a signal through electromagnetic relay prograrnming circuit 47 to a first relay for the right transfer controller motor 92. This signal starts motor 92 in a counterclockwise direction and drives right transfer arm 50 in the same direction via shaft 90. Ann 50 moves counterclockwise until a microswitch 141 is tripped when the arm reaches the extreme position, as indicated in FIG. 6. The tripping of microswitch 141 energizes relay circuitry (not shown) which reverses the direction of travel of arm 50 and starts winder motor 28 which brings pim 12 up to a predetermined rotational speed.

Upon reversal, arm 50 picks up the running end of yarn 14 as the yarn moves from guide 16 to traverse 14 to pim 10. This clockwise movement continues for an arc of substantially 200 until the yarn is brought through guide 106 to bear against knife 108 (FIG. 3). A microswitch, not shown, which defines the limit of movement of arm 50, is tripped and arm 50 returns to its neutral position.

When yarn 14 is severed by knife 108 due to the reversal of tension in the yarn as the hook on chuck 30 grabs the yarn, the tension on switch blade 111 for microswitch 113 is released. Consequently, microswitch 113 is tripped and programming relay circuit 47 sends out a signal which switches right winder motor 28 from start to run power supply and stops left winder motor 20 by deenergizing the relay circuitry operatively connected to motor 20.

Programming relay circuit 47 also provides a signal to reverse the direction of travel of arm 50. Arm 50 is stopped in its neutral position by another microswitch (not shown) which removes power from motor 92. This sequence of events covers 1 only one half of the complete transfer cycle; however, the other half of the cycle utilized for transfer arm 48 to transfer yarn 14 from pim 12 back to pim 10 is substantially similar, and is omitted in the interest of clarity.

Since numerous modifications of the instant invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, such as in the number and positioning of the microswitches,'the configuration of the guides for the yarn, the orientation of the knives, etc., it is to'be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative in nature and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

An automatic wasteless transfer precision winder apparatus for winding up continuously advancing yarn, said apparatus comprising:

a. a pair of spaced chucks with pirns operatively mounted and connected to independent drive means for rotating said pirns,

b. guide means for guiding the yarn to one of said pair of pirns,

automatic movable transfer yarn means comprising a pair of transfer arms for alternately transferring the yarn from a full pirn to an empty pirn, each arm having a rotatively adjustable collar with a peripherally protruding lug guide means nearer one end of each transfer arm, and a cone-shaped guide means nearer the opposite end of each transfer arm, means for moving said transfer arm whereby said cone-shaped guide means intersects the path of yarn movement for alternate transfer of the yarn from the full pirn to the empty pim upon a predetermined length of yarn being wound on the full pim, said protruding lug pride means being so positioned as to control the length of a transfer tail upon transfer of the advancing yarn from said full pim, a severing means for severing said advancing 53 33 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,688,998 Dated September 5, 1972 Inventor(s) Robert D. Carr, Fred W. Lenoir, Ora L. Reedy It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 7, "alternatively" should be alternately-.

Column 3, line 20, insert ofafter "length".

Column 5, line 15, "alternatively" should be --alternately-.

Column 5, line 41, "alternatively" should be -alternately.

Column 7, line 12, "not" should be now.

Column 8, line 33, "traverse 14" should be traverse 24.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of February 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. An automatic wasteless transfer precision winder apparatus for winding up continuously advancing yarn, said apparatus comprising: a. a pair of spaced chucks with pirns operatively mounted and connected to independent drive means for rotating said pirns, b. guide means for guiding the yarn to one of said pair of pirns, c. automatic movable transfer yarn means comprising a pair of transfer arms for alternately transferring the yarn from a full pirn to an empty pirn, each arm having a rotatively adjustable collar with a peripherally protruding lug guide means nearer one end of each transfer arm, and a cone-shaped guide means nearer the opposite end of each transfer arm, means for moving said transfer arm whereby said cone-shaped guide means intersects the path of yarn movement for alternate transfer of the yarn from the full pirn to the empty pirn upon a predetermined length of yarn being wound on the full pirn, said protruding lug guide means being so positioned as to control the length of a transfer tail upon transfer of the advancing yarn from said full pirn, a severing means for severing said advancing yarn upon transfer of yarn from said full pirn to said empty pirn, and d. automatically electrically sequencing circuitry means for interrelating said advancing yarn with said drive means and said yarn transfer means.
 2. The winder apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drive means comprise individual motors, said yarn transfer means comprise individual motors, and a power supply means for said motors, said sequencing circuitry means energizing said empty pirn drive motor and deenergizing said full pirn drive motor upon reaching a predetermined length of yarn on said full pirn. 